Arrangement for deriving currents



22, 1936. L, KOROS ET AL 2,065,280

vARRMKIEMEN'I FOR DERIVING CURRENTS Filed ma 10, 1954 $.Sheets-Sheet 2 Kali fizvenfans 1 0073/00; Kira": /far///a//en WWW Iiiarney Dec. 22, 1936. L. KOROs E'r AL v ARRANGEMENT FOR DERIVING CURRENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 10, 1934 Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ladislaus Kiiriis, Berlin-Mariendorf, and Karl Hallen, Berlin-Tempelhof, Germany Application May 10, 1934, Serial No. 725,016

In Germany May 13, 1933 19 Claims.

In the case of direct current equipment it is l5 useful to avail ones self of a high-vacuum tube having three or more electrodes; however, in the case of alternating current equipment, or respectively if it would be possible that the supply voltage could drop down to zero or below a certain limit (as for instance the operating voltage of the tube), the use of gas filled grid controlled tubes will be of advantage.

In view of obtaining inertialess regulation, the use of high-vacuum electron'tubes is specially recommended. The use of such tubes is of advantage specially for the reason that these tubes permit, with a pure direct current, modulation of the current voltage as far down as zero, so that they can be connected between filter arrangements and the output for the consumers circuit,

whereby the time constant of the filtering device does not afiect the regulation, In order to attain improvement in the possibility of modulation in gaseous discharge tubes, it is useful to superpose an auxiliaryv alternative voltage of known value. Also, according to the further development of the present invention, it is possible to use the tube as a rectifier at the same time, provided that it possesses sufficient puncture strength in the valved direction.

Fig. 1 annexed represents an embodiment of the present invention in the most simple case and in the case of its connection to a direct current supply network.

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram of a' second form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of a third form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a wiring the invention.

Fig. 5 is a graph showing the relation between the input'and output voltages in a'device of this character.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram showing slight modification of the form shown in Fig. 1.

diagram of a fourth form of Fig. '7 is a wiring diagram showing a sixth form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram showing a seventh form of the invention. 1

Fig. 9 is a, graph showing the relation'between voltage and time in the output from this invention.

Fig. 10 is a group of graphs showing the relationship between the voltages at various parts of the apparatus.

In Fig. 1, G is a direct current generator fro which the voltage is derived through a filter arrangement C1, C2, D. In the lead to the consumers circuit, connected to terminal K1, tube R. is inserted as a variable resistance in accordance with the invention. This tube, in the case under consideration, is separately heated. It is a grid controlled tube, the grid potential of which is derived from the series resistance Vforming a potentiometerconnected with discharge gap N. The consumers circuit is then situated between K1 and K2. The discharge gap N, is not able to take up the whole consumer current. If stronger currents are derived from terminals K1 and K2, there will be a voltage drop at resistance V, due to the fact that owing to the physical properties of the discharge gap, the voltage at N will remainv stable, and accordingly the grid of tube R.

. will become less negative, i. e. a greater amount of current will pass through the plate circuit of the tube, or-in other words-the resistance in the power supply circuit has been reduced. However, if the current derived from points K1 and K: becomes weaker, there will be a reverse action, and the flow of current will be reduced by the increased resistance of tube R. v If discharge gap N, for higher frequencies, possesses a higher internal resistance, it will be .usefuL-lf one wishes to derive a stable currentto connect in parallel a condenser 01' such a size that the resistance resulting has the desired value. If one inserts tube R before the choke arrangement C1, C2, D, the effect of the grid voltage influence is delayed by the time constant of the choke arrangement, i. c. it will not be inertialess. 7

It is a matter of course that the regulating action has nothing to do by itself with the kind of power supply used, and that, in the place of the direct current generator, as per Fig. 1, an alternating current battery eliminator, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 maybe used. In such a case it will be useful, in accordance with the description given later, and as will be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, to unite the necessary rectifier tube with the regulating tube, which is, however, not absolutely necessary.

The corresponding switching elements in Figs. 2 and 3 have the same reference characters. It is assumed that not only one but a variety of consumer circuit voltages are to be derived (terminals IQ, K4, K5), the voltage being subdivided V with the aid of the well known glow gap voltage divider. An auxiliary alternating current voltage is led, as mentioned above, to terminals A and B, which will be arranged with advantage to pass through a phase shifter F. The filtering device C3, C4, Q renders impossible the fiow through the consumers circuit of the auxiliary alternating current. The auxiliary alternating current voltage can also be derived from the network itself. The regulating action by itself will be eventually affected by the variation of the auxiliary voltage; however, by selecting suitable values it can be attained that the variations of the alternating current auxiliary voltage will not give rise to disturbing voltage variations at the output terminals.

The circuit arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is essentially identical with the one shown in Fig. 2. In the arrangement as in Figure 3, however, the exciter current for discharge tube N is supplied to terminals C and D from a foreign power supply. This is possible as discharge gap N has first of all-to supply a stable voltage of comparison. Potentiometer P is connected in parallel to leads K2, K5; the suitable voltage is derived from that potentiometer.

In the further development of the invention represented by Fig. 4, the varying direct current voltage (voltage difference between rectifier and direct current voltage) is not led directly to the discharge gap, but a Kipp arrangement is to be supplied from it, which aifects in its turn the tube controlled. The insertion of such a Kipp-arrangement offers essentially the feature of an improvement in the adjustment of the phase of the voltage controlling the grid con trolled tube. Similar arrangements can be used wherever voltage variations are to be converted into phase variations.

A practical example of circuit arrangement for carrying out the idea of the present invention is shown in Fig. 4. The direct current power supply and the variable resistance inserted in the leads to the consumers circuit are combined in the form of a grid controlled rectifier. It is possible, of course, as stated in the foregoing in reference to the forms shown in Figs. l-3, to separate the power supply from the variable resistance. The direct current voltage is first led into a filtering device consisting of choke D and two condensers C1, and C2. A series connected circuit consisting of a glow gap voltage divider N and a series resistance Rv is connected in parallel with the filtering device. Another supply of voltage of comparison may be inserted instead of glow gap voltage divider N. When the useful voltage EN varies, the series resistance Rv counterbalances the total difference in voltage A V. However, the voltage on the glow gap voltage divider N remains stable due to the physical properties of the latter, the consequence being that the voltage variation on the series resistance Rv, in relation to its medium value, is of a very'high percentage rate. The Kipp-generator, represented in the figure referred to above by the capacitive resistance link C3 and R3 and the glow discharge lamp G1, is fed with the voltage differences derived from series resistance Rv in such a manner that due to its Kipposcillations, with varying useful voltage EN, accelerated or delayed ignition in conformity with these voltage changes is initiated. In the glow discharge lamp circuit the transformers T1 and T2 are inserted. The control voltage is fed to the grid of the rectifier through the impulsetransformer T1. The control impulse generated in the Kipp device referred to above is of exceedingly short duration, and under certain circumstances its magnitude attains a multiple value of the minimum voltage necessary to initiate the sparking procedure proper; whereby, as will be found from Fig. 5, a very sharp cut with the sparking characteristic (Ea/Egcharacteristic plate potential voltage in function of grid potential) is attained, so that the initiation of ignition is absolutely secured. The frequency necessary for the sparking voltage impulse, being in a constant relation to the power supply frequency, in addition to suitably chosen resistance and capacity, is attained by a supplementary synchronizing equipment. This synchronization, in the device described, is for instance attained by feeding an auxiliary alternating current voltage E, derived from the main transformer through a transformer T, into the glow discharge lamp circuit. With the help of such a Kipp" relay the initiation of the ignition of the rectifier can be varied over a wide range of timing; however, by inserting a further phase shifting device, this range of timing can still be enlarged if necessary. This additional phase shifting device can for instance be formed by a second Kipp-relay connected in cascade circuit with the first one; the Kipp oscillation of the first Kipp relay is then fed into the second Kipp relay as synchronizing frequency. The phase shifting devices can for instance consist of bridges formed by variable or non-ohmic resistances or respectively electron valves controlled by the voltage variation on resistance Rv.

In Fig. 6 the construction is like that of Fig. 1, except that a condenser C is bridged around the spark gap N.

In Fig. 7 the construction is also like that of Fig. 1 except that the tube R is arranged on the generator side of the filtering arrangement instead of being, as in Fig. 1, on the discharge gap side of the filtering arrangement.

In Figure 8 is shown an arrangement of the invention in accordance with such a cascade device, the main current being substantially identical with the arrangement of Figure 2 except that the terminals A and B are connected to the primary winding of a step-up transformer T3 having its secondary forming part of a circuit I0 including in series a resistance II, the primary winding of a second transformer T4 and a discharge gap [2, a condenser l3 being bridged across this circuit. The secondary winding of the transformer T4 is connected in series with an'inductance l5, the primary winding of a third transformer T5 and a discharge gap IE. Condensers I! are suitably connected across this last circuit and auxiliary terminals A1 and B1 are connected to the secondary winding of the transformer T5. Thus the output from the terminals A and B is stepped up in voltage by the cascade arrangement shown. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the relation between time and voltage in circuits of the kind set forth, the measurements on a vertical coordinate indicating voltage and the measurements along a horizontal coordinate indicating time.

aoeaaao In addition to the automatic regulation described above, this regulating principle can eventually be used at the same time for the regulation within a certain range in the way prescribed from hand or in dependence from any other action of the useful direct current voltage EN without having an output loss, by forming a potentiometer of series resistance Rv. The value of the voltage derived each time from this potentiometer determines the phase situationoi the rectifier alternating current voltage in relation to the control voltage supplied from the Kipp relay, and thereby affects directly the magnitude of the direct current voltage supplied from the equipment.

What we claim is:

1. A voltage regulating device including a source of current having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leadingfrom the other electrode,*out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact movable over said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

2. A voltage regulating device including a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of alternating current and a secondary winding having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, a conductive connection betweenone of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, cona resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact movable over said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

3. A voltage regulating device including a source of current having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, said tube having a heater element deriving current from a source other than the first mentioned source of current, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means includheater element deriving current from a source other than the first mentioned source of current, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact movable over said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

5. A voltage regulating device including a source of current having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, said tube having a heater element and being of the gas filled type, means to supply current to the heater element, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and. a contact movable over said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

6. A voltage regulating device including a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of alternating current and a second ary winding having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, said tube having a heater element and being of the gas filled type, means to supply current to the heater element a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of thesource of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact movable over said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

7. A volt-age regulating device including a, transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of alternating current and a secondary winding having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of'the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connectionsfa conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact movable over said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection, and

a secondary power supply interspersed in the last mentioned connection.

8. A voltage regulating device including a source of current having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact movable over said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection, and other current supply means connected to the terminals of said discharge gap.

9. A voltage regulating device including a source of current having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, 2. connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said grid control means including a discharge gap and a Kipp circuit connection between said grid and one terminal of the discharge gap.

10. A regulating circuit for direct currents, said circuit having an input and an output tending to vary from normal in accordance with the potential diilerence between the output and input, said circuit including a variable resistance tube,

means for supplying a constant potential, and

means to regulate the resistance of the tube in conformity with variations from normal of the potential difierence between the first means and the output.

11. The circuit of claim 10 characterized by having the variable resistance tube constitute also a rectifier tube.

12. A voltage regulating device including a source of current having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the'discharge gap and a contact in series with-said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

13. A voltage regulating device including a transformer having a primary winding connected to asource of alternating current and a. secondary winding having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact in series with said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

14. A voltage regulating device including a source of current having a pair of terminals, 9. tube including electrodes and a grid, said tube having a heater element deriving current from a source other than the first mentioned source of current, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connectionleading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact in series with said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

15. A voltage regulating device including a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of alternating current and a secondary winding having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, said tube having a heater element deriving current from the first mentioned source of current, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact in series with said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

16. A voltage regulating device including a source or current having a pair of terminals, a tube ,including electrodes and a grid. said tube having a heater element and being of the gas filled type, means to supply current to the heater element, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal 01' the source of current, control means for said grid bridged be tween the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a di charge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact in series with said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

connection leading from the other electrode, output means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, and a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact in series with said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection.

18. A voltage regulating device including a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of alternating current and a secondary winding having a 'pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, 2. connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminal of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact in series with said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection, and a secondary power supply interspersed in the last mentioned connection.

19. A voltage regulating device including a source of current having a pair of terminals, a tube including electrodes and a grid, a conductive connection between one of said terminals and one of said electrodes, a connection leading from the other electrode, out-put means for the device connected at one side to the last mentioned connection, a connection leading from the remaining terminals of the source of current, control means for said grid bridged between the last two connections, a conductive connection between said grid and the controlling means, said controlling means including a discharge gap and a resistor in series with the discharge gap and a contact in series with said resistor and forming a terminal for the last mentioned connection, and other current supply means connected to the terminals of said discharge gap.

LADISLAUS K6R6s. KARL HALLEN. 

